I Have Saved Over $2000 On Haircuts Alone.

No joke. Here’s the deal: home haircuts are a great way to save some money, especially if you have a man or two in your house who really loves a buzz cut. Why pay $10-15 (plus gas money) every four to six weeks when you can take care of it at home in five minutes?

Let me back up. I was given the opportunity, after visiting the Housewares show in Chicago a couple of months ago, to review the new Wahl Lithium Ion Clipper and I jumped at the chance, not only because my old clipper is also a Wahl, but it is corded and on its last leg because I use it so much.

Let me back up even more. Jim was in the Navy when we got married more than twenty-five years ago, and keeping his hair short and neat–more specifically High and Tight, which is the name of the “style” he has worn since way back in those days–was of utmost importance. Our budget being what it was, we invested in a home clipper and I cut his hair on the back porch whenever he needed me to. The clipper paid for itself by the third haircut.

After D was born, it was a few years before I started cutting his hair because at first his hair style was what my dad refers to as “Tupperware Bowl #4” and had to be done by a professional. Eventually I started the short, all one length cuts for him (though not as short as Jim’s!), and for J as well. For a while there we would declare “Haircut Night” every few Sundays and the three of them would line up in the laundry room, waiting for their turn. Call me weird, but I thought it was cool to see the differences in their hair colors and textures as what I buzzed off ended up in combined piles around them on the floor. Bonus for me: the last one to get a haircut was in charge of sweeping up the floor.

A couple of years ago when J hit the age of wanting to impress girls, he decided to let his hair grow longer to show off his naturally curly hair (well, I don’t know his real reason but I’m guessing that I’m close) and he had to go to the salon (ahem, barber shop if any of you personally ask him), but D and Jim were still my clients.

In fact, I figure I’ve saved over $2000 by cutting hair at home for the majority of twenty-five years. Crazy, right?

So let’s get to this Wahl Lithium Ion Clipper. First, the nuts and bolts. It can run for up to two hours on one charge, and has a 15-minute quick-charge option if you’re in a pinch. It comes with a great little case that also includes a detail trimmer and a bunch of accessories and guide combs (we use the 1/4″ and 1/8″ guides the most around here!): you can take the whole kit ANYWHERE, especially since there are no cords to speak of. The clipper and detail trimmer feature Wahl’s signature precision-ground, high-carbon steel blades and come with a five-year warranty. The MSRP is $69.99.

Now, what did we think? I love it. The contour of the clipper’s shape makes it very comfortable to hold and when you turn the clipper on, it is not very loud or annoying. The guides snap on very easily–and stay put–and it couldn’t be easier to use. I can do a High and Tight (including trimming over the ears and on the back of the neck) in less than five minutes, and if you know anything about me you know that I really value my time, so not having a huge ordeal with haircuts is great for my attitude in general. The only problem I have with the clipper is MY problem and not a design issue: I keep feeling like it’s going to slip out of my hand. I’m guessing that’s because I am adjusting to a cordless clipper after twenty-five years of a corded one, so I have no doubt I will be fine after the next cut or two. ANYONE can use this successfully. Seriously.

And, in a surprise to all of us, here’s something unexpected that I’m happy to be able to add to this review…

Over the weekend, my parents were visiting us from their home in Tennessee. My dad, who keeps his hair cut so close to his head that it’s ridiculous, said he needed a haircut. My mom was asking me about how I do the haircuts at home and I told her all about this new clipper. She asked if I could show her how to do it, and she ended up watching me cut D’s hair. A couple of hours later, she and my dad went to the laundry room and she successfully buzzed his hair for the very first time. It will not be the last: she is headed to the store when she gets home to get a Wahl Lithium Ion Clipper for her house. And if that’s not the ideal situation–get a product to review, show someone how easy it is to use, have them try it, and then they buy one–I don’t know what is.

Need I go on? I love this thing. You will too, and so will your wallet.

Disclosure: I was given a Wahl Lithium Ion Clipper to review for the purpose of writing this post. I was not compensated in any other way. All opinions, as usual, are mine!